Educational apparatus.



'110.723,'022. y PATENTED MAR.417,`190|3.

' A EDUGATIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOVl-ZO, 1901. No MODEL. K Y asume-sum 1.

A' FVW No. 4723,022. l PATENTBD MAR.,17, 1903.

' l l L.s.1 RATT.

EDUCATIONAL APPARATUS.

P. l T S E Y n A a E s H 4 N 2 ,H V w .l 0 m A A. m n H A W A APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20,11901. A

` .No MODEL.

"w/.T r ssEs UNITED STATES..

\ ATENT Fries.

ALEE S. PRATT, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

EDUCATIONALIIAPPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 723,022, dated March 17, 1903. Application filed November 20, 1901. Serial No. 83,017. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t rotary concern:

Be it known thatI, LEE S. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Galesburg, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have made certain new and useful Improvements inEducational Apparatus, of which the following is a specilication.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved educational apparatus for use of pupils in school and at home.

4 One of the chief Vfeatures of the invention is arectangular frame adapted to be permanently secured to a wall and to receive and temporarily hold boards, maps, or panels designed to be used in the course of instruction.

The details of construction, arrangement, and operation of parts are as hereinafter described. l A

In the drawings, Figure l is a face view of the rectangular frame constituting a chief feature of my invention, together with certain attachments of' the same. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a cell-case for holding letter and number blocks, dac., and which may constitute the inner side of theI panel or closure for the blackboard and frame. Fig. 2fL is a perspective view of a number and letter bearing block adapted for use in the cell-case shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a side View of the ap paratus with the panel or closure lowered and supported in position for use. Fig. 4 is a central vertical cross-section of the apparatus, the panel or closure being in closed position. Fig. 5 is a perspective view'illustrating a modification in the hinge attachment of the panel or closure to-the frame. Fig. Gis aperspective view showing the back board and lower bar or ledge of the frame. Fig. 7 is a detail section of the panel or closure for the frame, illustrating the detachable connection of its supports therewith.

The rectangular frame A is secured to the wall by screws et, as shown ingFigs. 1, 3, 4. The bars composing the frame thus project and form an inclosing rim, within which a panel B, such as shown in Fig. 2, or boards, maps, cards, dac., employed in the course of instruction, may be set and temporarily held in place. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the bottom bar a is beveled on its inner side, and thus adapted to support and hold the panel B, as shown in Fig. l--that is to say, by

reason of the aforesaid bevel the cell-case, map, board,or other device set upon the ledge ot' and within the inclosure of the frame A will slide down so as to lie inclose contact with the back board C of the frame, while its upper end or side may be secured by a gravity-catch d2, which is pivoted and will in practice be made of any length that may be required to properly engage, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The said back C of the frame A is a board provided on its front side with a black or slated surface c, with which blackboards are usually provided. In brief, the board C performs two functions' in thatit forms the rigid back proper of the frame and constitutes a writing-surface adapted for use of pupils. It will be further seen that the bar or ledge a before described performs the additional function of a chalk receptacle or holder. To enable the chalk dust, which will accumulate therein, to be conveniently removed, I provide the ledge a' with a discharge-opening a3. (See Fig. 6.) This opening is preferably located at one end of the ledge ct, and a stopper a4 may be provided for temporarily closing 1t.

The panel B before' referred to is a cell-A case composed of a series of thin partitions crossing each other at right angles, and thus forming a series of rectangular pockets or cells, as shown best in Fig. 2. In such cells blocks (see Fig. 2a) are inserted,the same bearing letters of the alphabet or Anumerals or any other symbol that may be desired or necessary for instruction. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the blocks may be employed most advantageously for young pupils for the purpose of spelling names or other words and 'for forming dates, dac. Sectional maps may also be provided with projections or blocks on their under sides Vwhereby they will be adapted to be temporarily held upon the cell-case B, as

required to produce a complete map. Various other modes of utilizing the cell-case will occur to the teacher.

The panel B is provided with a polished back b, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) and it may be pivoted or hinged to the lower portion of the frame so that it may be held extended by means of chains D (see Fig. 3) or other preferred flexible devices when required for the use of the pupil. To enable the panel to be IOO . scribed.

adjusted higher or lower, as the size of the pupil cr convenience may require, the end bars of its frame are provided with holes b', (see Fig. 7,) with which the hooks d of the chains may detachably engage. The panel is detachably hinged either as shown in Figs. 1, 3 or as shown in Fig. -that is to say, the lower bar or ledge a of the frame A may be provided with metal ears A3, between which the panel is placed and then secured for temporary use by pins A4, or instead of this the side bars of the frame A may be extended, as shown in Fig. 5, to form ears through which a pin 0,5 may be inserted. Thus when it is desired to employ the panel in the extended position (shown in Fig. 3) the swinging catch 0,2 is turned upward and the panel drawn forward at the top, so that it may be lifted out of engagement with the ledge a. The inner end of the panel is then placed between the ears a3 and the pin d4 inserted and the chains D attached, as shown. When desired, for the purpose of concealing them the chains D or other flexible supports for the panel B may be detached from the hooks a, that project laterally from the ends of the frame A and laid in the trough formed by the ledge a. The chains D are engaged at their upper ends with hooks a6, projecting from theframe, (see Fig. 1,) and are provided at their other ends with hooks` d, which engage with the panel, as best shown in Fig. 7.

It will be seen that the polished back b of the panel B not only serves as an ornamental casing or cover for the blackboard c, but further adapts it for use as a table or shelf for use of the pupil in Writing, drawing, &c. Thus by detaching the pins A4 or d5 and turning the panel bottom upward and again pivoting it, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 3, and engaging the chain-hooks CZ with the same it is placed in position for the use last de- It may be further stated that this construction and attachment of the panel enables it to be conveniently used independently ot' the permanent frame A-that is to say, it may be readily detached and used upon a table or `wherever else the pupil may require.

As shown in Figs. I, 8, 4, cards E,bearing pictures, symbols, or other characters which the pupil is required to copy upon the blackboard c, are suspended above or over the same by means of a rod F, held in vertically-adjustable brackets G. The cards E are provided with rings e, suitably inserted in eyelets, and through these the rod F is passed and also through the hooks constituting the brackets. It is apparent that by lifting the rod F off its supports the cards may be removed and others substituted with ease and rapidity. The said brackets or hooks G have bases or feet adapted to slide in slotted guideways H, which are screwed to the end bars of the frame A and preferably project above .the same, as shown. These guideways may be constructed of metal,preferablyspring metal,

so that they may hold the hooks G in any adjustment by means of friction. By this means theexhibition cards or maps, doc., suspended from the rod F may be conveniently' adjusted higher or lower, as conditions may require.

In further explanation of one of the principal features of my invention I will state that in place of the cell-case shown and described,which, as already intimated, is merely a preferred form of panel to be employed in connection with the frame A, I may construct a panel in various ways or forms, as required for various uses. For example, the panel may be the cell-case proper without a back or a reticulated board for use in crocheting or embroidery and the like or a map or a board having a tablet of drawing or other paper attached for use of pupils. In brief, I propose to utilize a variety of panels for instruction or amusement as judgment may suggest, the essential condition remaining that the panel shall be adapted to be held in the border-frame, as described.

In the position of parts shown in Fig. 1 the chain D may be hung up on a pin d', as shown in said figure, to prevent the chain from hanging down too far.

What I claim is- 1. An improved educational appliance, comprising a vertical rectangular frame fixed to a wall and having a forwardly-projecting bottom ledge Whose inner side is beveled oradapted to be fixed to a wall and having a' forwardly-projecting bottom ledge whose inner side is beveled or sloped as shown, and a removable panel adapted to fit within said frame and having a lower edge which is adapted to lie in the angle formed by the ledge, the panel resting in place by gravity, and adevice for engaging the upper edge of the panel, as shown and described.

3. The combination with a rigid frame adapted to be secured to a wall and provided with pendent ears of a cell-case or other instructional device adapted to be adjusted betwmeen said ears and removable pintles or pivots adapted to pass through ears and flexible devices attached to the ends of the frame and adapted for adjustable connection with the outer portion of the cell-case substantially as shown and described.

4. An educational apparatus comprising a rigid frame adapted to be secured to a wall and a cell-case or other educational device which is adapted to fit in the space inclosed by 'said frame and is provided with a back which forms when so itted the ornamental front of the apparatus and means for detachably hing- IIO ing and supporting the cell-case in the extended position required for use, said means being attached to the frame substantially as frame of vertcallyslotted guideways or guides secured thereto brackets adapted to slide therein and to be held by friction .at any required height, a rod detachably connected with and supported by said brackets in horizontal position and cards provided with rings through which the said rod is adapted to pass zo substantially as shown and described.

LEE S. PRATT.

Witnesses:

AMos W. HART, SoLoN C. KEMoN. 

